Starring Josh Brolin as a man locked away for 20 years (up from 15 in the original) in a hotel-like prison by an unseen nemesis for reasons he is unable to fathom, Lee's version is said to be based more directly on the 1996 Japanese manga that spawned Park's mystery thriller. There have been rumours that it does not contain the famous octopus-eating scene from the original, but there are signs that the remake holds true to the Korean film's grim and offbeat sensibilities in other ways.

Once again, a horrified Brolin finds out from news reports that his wife is dead, and that he is considered the main suspect. The US actor, here known as Joe Doucette, grows his hair long in the witchy style of the original's Oh Dae-su, and bloggers who saw an early screening in April said the remake maintains the shocking key plot twist in Park's movie that knocks the viewer and the film's central protagonist for six.

Lee's version also features Samuel L Jackson, Elizabeth Olsen and District 9's Sharlto Copley, with Copley taking the role of the main villain. The Jungle Fever director took on the project after it found itself floundering in development hell following the demise of an abortive version by Steven Spielberg, which would have seen Will Smith take the main role. The new Oldboy finds its way into cinemas on 17 October in Australia, and 25 October in the US. British filmgoers will get to see it from 6 December.